Face mask for football helmet and football helmet including the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a helmet including an outer shell configured to surround a wearer&#39;s head and having an open front, a face mask mounted on the outer shell and located on a frontal opening of the outer shell to protect a front of a wearer&#39;s face, and a plurality of fixing clips installed on the outer shell to fix the face mask.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a face mask for a football helmet and a football helmet including the same.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Although contact sports such as football and the like are very popular, many injuries have occurred due to a collision between players. A helmet is necessarily used to prevent a head part from being damaged by an impact during sports activities. A variety of helmets are used in football sports. Generally, a face mask for protecting a front surface of a wearer's face is installed in a helmet. A collision between helmets of players or a frontal clash of a face mask is one that is primarily responsible for head injuries in football games.

Since general face masks are manufactured as a bar of a metallic material such as steel, titanium, and the like, there is a problem that an impact applied to a face mask is not properly absorbed.

Recently, a structure configured to absorb an impact applied to a face mask by connecting the face mask to a helmet using a spring has been developed. However, since it is necessary to install additional devices in the face mask and the helmet, this structure is very complicated and it is not easy to actually manufacture or apply to the structure. Also, it is effective only in a collision in a particular direction and it is insufficient to appropriately absorb impacts in collisions in a variety of directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To provide basic understanding of particular embodiments of the present invention, a summary of the embodiments will be set forth hereafter.

The present invention is directed to providing a face mask structure configured to absorb an impact.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a helmet including an outer shell configured to surround a wearer's head and having an open front, a face mask mounted on the outer shell and located on a frontal opening of the outer shell to protect a front of a wearer's face, and a plurality of fixing clips installed on the outer shell to fix the face mask.

The helmet may further include an internal liner installed inside the outer shell to buffer an impact.

The face mask may include a plurality of curved bars which are bent. The plurality of curved bars may include a frame bar disposed along the frontal opening of the helmet and coupled to the outer shell of the helmet and a plurality of lateral bars extending across the frontal opening of the helmet and having both fore ends attached to the frame bar.

The frame bar may include a metallic core member and a polycarbonate outer cover installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member.

The lateral bars may each include a metallic core member and a polycarbonate outer cover installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member.

The core member and the outer cover may have a circular or elliptical cross-sectional structure.

The core member may have a diameter of 3 mm to 6 mm. The outer cover may have a thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The outer cover may be formed by mixing polycarbonate with glass fibers.

The glass fibers may be mixed in an amount of more than zero to 30 wt %.

The outer cover may be integrally formed with the core member through insert-injection molding or over-molding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a helmet in which a face mask according to an embodiment is mounted;

FIG. 2 illustrates the face mask according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a frame portion of the face mask according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, this is provided as an example and the present invention is not limited thereto and will be defined by the scope of the following claims. A variety of modifications of the embodiment will be made without departing from the concept and scope of the present invention. As possible, like or similar parts will be referred to as like reference numerals in the drawings.

The technical terms are used hereinafter merely to state a particular embodiment and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular forms used herein, unless defined otherwise clearly, include plural forms. The meaning of “comprising” used in the specification specifies a particular property, region, integer, stage, operation, element and/or component and is not intended to exclude presence or addition of another particular property, region, integer, stage, operation, element, component, and/or group.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following embodiment is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates components of a helmet according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a helmet 10 according to the embodiment may include an outer shell 12, a face mask 20, and a plurality of fixing clips 14 configured to fix the face mask 20.

A liner (not shown) configured to buffer an impact may be further installed inside the outer shell 12.

The outer shell 12 may include a single layer or a plurality of layers.

The outer shell 12 has a shape surrounding a wearer's head, and a front surface thereof is open so as not to hide the wearer's face and to form a frontal opening.

The outer shell 12 may be manufactured using an adequate plastic material having strength and durability required in contact sports.

A shape or size of the outer shell 12 may be variously modified and are not limited particularly. The face mask 20 is mounted on the outer shell 12 by the fixing clips 14 installed on the outer shell 12. The plurality of fixing clips 14 may be installed and arranged at certain intervals along a periphery of the frontal opening of the outer shell 12. For example, the fixing clips 14 may be detachably installed on the outer shell 12 using bolts. Accordingly, when necessary, the fixing clips 14 are disassembled from the outer shell 12 by releasing the bolts so as to detach the face mask 20 from the outer shell 12 or to mount a new face mask 20.

A number of installed fixing clips 14 or a coupling structure with the face mask 20 may be variously changed. Also, the fixing clips 14 may additionally include an energy absorption structure configured to additionally absorb a force applied to the face mask 20.

The face mask 20 is located on the frontal opening of the outer shell 12 and protects the wearer's face.

The face mask 20 may include a plurality of curved bars which are bent.

The plurality of curved bars may include a frame bar 22 disposed along the frontal opening of the helmet 10 and coupled to the outer shell 12 of the helmet 10 and a plurality of lateral bars 24 extending across the frontal opening of the helmet 10 and having both fore ends attached to the frame bar 22.

The frame bar 22 may be formed to be bent along a boundary surface of the frontal opening of the outer shell 12. The frame bar 22 may have a closed shape overall.

The plurality of lateral bars 24 are disposed at intervals vertically and extend over the frontal opening of the helmet 10. The lateral bars 24 may have an arch-shaped curve structure. Both fore ends of each of the lateral bars 24 are attached to the frame. The number of the lateral bars 24 may vary and is not limited particularly.

Also, the face mask 20 according to the embodiment may further include a plurality of vertical bars 26 configured to connect the frame bar 22 to the lateral bars 24 or connect the lateral bar 24 to the lateral bar 24. The vertical bars 26 vertically extend and both fore ends are attached between the frame bar 22 and the lateral bar 24 or between the lateral bar 24 and the lateral bar 24.

The frame bar 22, the lateral bars 24, or the vertical bars 26 may be integrally attached. For example, the frame bar 22, the lateral bars 24, or the vertical bars 26 may be integrally attached through welding.

The face mask 20 according to the embodiment may have a structure configured to independently absorb impact energy applied from the outside.

To this end, in the face mask 20 according to the embodiment, the frame bar 22 and the lateral bars 24 may have a hybrid structure including a metallic core member 28 and a polycarbonate outer cover 29 that is installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member 28. As another embodiment, the vertical bars 26 may also have a hybrid structure including the metallic core member 28 and the polycarbonate outer cover 29.

Since the face mask 20 has the hybrid structure including the metallic core member 28 and the polycarbonate outer cover 29, when an external impact is applied, the face mask 20 may be independently deformed and may effectively absorb the impact.

When a face mask includes only a polycarbonate material, upon application of an external impact, the face mask may be severely deformed and may come into contact with the wearer's face.

The face mask of the embodiment may reduce severe deformation of the face mask caused by an impact due to the metallic core member inside the polycarbonate outer cover.

When a face mask is manufactured using only a core, deformation caused by an impact is insignificant as in a conventional case, and impact absorption is not properly performed. When a diameter of a core is formed to be thin, an effect of absorbing an impact may be provided only using the core. However, it is necessary to form the diameter of the core to be 6 mm or less. In the case of this structure, the core may be excessively thin and may cause damage to a body part without protective equipment such as an arm, a leg, and the like while colliding therewith.

Accordingly, the face mask may be adequately deformed against an external impact while forming a cross section having an adequate diameter to prevent a body from being damaged through an organic coupling structure between the outer cover and the core member as in the embodiment.

The core member 28 may be manufactured using a metallic material such as steel, an aluminum alloy, and the like.

The core member 28 may be formed to have a circular cross-sectional structure.

The frame bar 22, the lateral bars 24, or the vertical bars 26 included in the face mask 20 may be connected to another by attaching the respective core members 28 to another.

The outer cover 29 is installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member 28. In the embodiment, the outer cover 29 may be formed of a polycarbonate material.

The core member 28 may be formed to have a circular cross-sectional structure like the core member 28.

For example, the outer cover 29 may be formed by fixing the core member 28 to an injection mold and insert-injection molding a polycarbonate resin thereinto. Alternatively, the outer cover 29 may be integrally formed with the core member 28 through over-molding.

In the embodiment, the core member 28 may have a diameter C of 3 mm to 6 mm. Also, a thickness T of the outer cover 29 may be 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. When the diameter C of the core member 28 is smaller than 3 mm, strength of the face mask 20 excessively decreases such that the core member 28 may be permanently deformed and damaged by an external impact. When the diameter C of the core member 28 is more than 6 mm, an overall size of the curved bar increases excessively and rigidity of the face mask 20 is excessively high such that it is difficult to properly absorb an external impact.

When the thickness T of the outer cover 29 is smaller than 1.5 mm, deformation of the face mask is significant and an overall diameter of the face mask decreases excessively such that an arm or leg part without particular protective equipment may be damaged while directly colliding therewith. When the thickness T of the outer cover 29 is more than 2.5 mm, deformation is not great and an effect of absorbing an external impact is degraded. Also, since the overall diameter of the face mask is excessively large so as to hide the wearer's view, it is disadvantageous to sports activities. As another embodiment, the outer cover 29 may be formed by mixing polycarbonate with glass fibers. Accordingly, impact-resistance of the outer cover may be improved.

Glass fibers may be mixed in an amount of more than zero to 30 wt %. When an amount of mixed glass fibers is more than 30 wt %, the face mask is excessively brittle, and impact absorption effect is significantly reduced.

Also, since it is difficult to perform injection molding, productivity is degraded.

Experimental Example

The U.S. National Football League (NFL) requires standard performance specification of National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) (NOCSAE DOC (ND) 081-18am20) with respect to football helmets to be met. The standard performance specification is a linear ram impact test, and a ram speed is within a range of 5.5 to 9.3 m/s.

According to the above standard performance specification, an impact test was performed on the helmet according to the embodiment.

TABLE 1 Acceleration (m/s2) of Deformation Amount (mm) Face Mask Impact Applied to Head of Face Mask Comparative 293 6.5 Example 1 Comparative 245 8.5 Example 2 Embodiment 131 19.6

Table 1 shows a result of analyzing finite elements with respect to the impact test on the helmet.

In Table 1, Embodiment shows a result of the impact test performed on the helmet in which the face mask according to the present invention is mounted. Comparative Example 1 shows a result of a test performed on a general helmet in which a steel face mask is mounted, and Comparative Example 2 shows a result of a test performed on a general helmet in which a titanium face mask is mounted.

The same impact at a ram speed of 5.5 m/s is applied to all the face masks of Embodiment and Comparative Examples. Shapes of all the face masks are equal, and distances between the face masks and faces are set to be 65 mm. Other test conditions are also performed equally according to the standard performance specification.

As a test result, as shown in Table 1, in the case of the helmet of Embodiment in which the face mask having the hybrid structure is mounted, it was seen that a deformation rate of the face mask was 19.6 mm which was larger in comparison to Comparative Examples and impact acceleration applied to a head was significantly reduced. Also, in the case of Embodiment, it may be seen that maximum deformation caused by the impact is 20 mm or less and an adequate distance is secured between the face mask and the face.

As described above, in the case of the helmet in which the face mask according to the embodiment is mounted, the helmet is independently deformed by an external impact and adequately absorbs the impact so as to effectively protect a wearer's head.

TABLE 2 Translation Rotational Possibility of Acceleration Acceleration Cerebral Face Mask (m/s²) (m/s²) Concussion Comparative 647 6,341 65-70% Example Embodiment 348 4,270 20-25%

Table 2 shows a result of analyzing finite elements when an impact is applied at a speed of 9.3 m/s, which is an upper limit of an actual collision speed similar to a severe crash condition which may occur during a game. The test has conditions in which a crash is performed between helmets and at an angle tilted by 30 degrees from a front of the face mask. Accordingly, rotation of the head occurs such that acceleration occurs in a direction of rotation. Accordingly, cerebral concussion occurs more easily in these conditions.

In Table 2, Embodiment shows a result of the impact test performed on the helmet in which the face mask according to the present invention is mounted. Comparative Example shows a result of a test performed on a general helmet in which a titanium face mask is mounted.

The test was performed on the titanium face mask having rigidity that is lower than steel. In the case of a steel face mask, due to rigidity that is higher than titanium, a result poorer than Comparative Example may be estimated.

As a test result, as shown in Table 2, it may be seen that the helmet of Embodiment in which the face mask having the hybrid structure is mounted may significantly reduce a possibility of occurrence of cerebral concussion in comparison to Comparative Example.

Accordingly, it may be seen that there is an effect in a collision in a tilted direction.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, a variety of modifications and other embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art. It should be noted that the modifications and other embodiments are included in the following claims and do not depart from the true intent and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A football helmet comprising an outer shell configured to surround a wearer's head and having an open front, a face mask mounted on the outer shell and located on a frontal opening of the outer shell to protect a front of a wearer's face, and a plurality of fixing clips installed on the outer shell to fix the face mask, wherein the face mask comprises a plurality of curved bars which are bent, wherein the plurality of curved bars comprise a frame bar disposed along the frontal opening of the helmet and coupled to the outer shell of the helmet and a plurality of lateral bars extending across the frontal opening of the helmet and having both fore ends attached to the frame bar, and wherein the frame bar comprises a metallic core member and a polycarbonate outer cover installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member.
 2. The football helmet of claim 1, wherein the lateral bars each comprise a metallic core member and a polycarbonate outer cover installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member.
 3. The helmet of claim 1, further comprising an internal liner installed inside the outer shell to buffer an impact.
 4. The football helmet of claim 1, wherein the core member and the outer cover have a circular or elliptical cross-sectional structure.
 5. The football helmet of claim 4, wherein the core member has a diameter of 3 mm to 6 mm.
 6. The football helmet of claim 5, wherein the outer cover has a thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.
 7. The football helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer cover is formed by mixing polycarbonate with glass fibers.
 8. The football helmet of claim 7, wherein the glass fibers are mixed in an amount of more than zero to 30 wt %.
 9. The football helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer cover is integrally formed with the core member through insert-injection molding or over-molding.
 10. A face mask for a football helmet comprising an outer shell configured to surround a wearer's head and having an open front, the face mask mounted on the outer shell and located on a frontal opening of the outer shell to protect a front of a wearer's face, and a plurality of fixing clips installed on the outer shell to fix the face mask, wherein the face mask comprises a plurality of curved bars which are bent, wherein the plurality of curved bars comprise a frame bar disposed along the frontal opening of the helmet and coupled to the outer shell of the helmet and a plurality of lateral bars extending across the frontal opening of the helmet and having both fore ends attached to the frame bar, and wherein the frame bar comprises a metallic core member and a polycarbonate outer cover installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member.
 11. The face mask of claim 10, wherein the lateral bars each comprise a metallic core member and a polycarbonate outer cover installed on an exterior of and surrounding the core member.
 12. The face mask of claim 10, wherein the core member and the outer cover have a circular or elliptical cross-sectional structure.
 13. The face mask of claim 12, wherein the core member has a diameter of 3 mm to 6 mm.
 14. The face mask of claim 13, wherein the outer cover has a thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.
 15. The face mask of claim 10, wherein the outer cover is formed by mixing polycarbonate with glass fibers.
 16. The face mask of claim 15, wherein the glass fibers are mixed in an amount of more than zero to 30 wt %.
 17. The face mask of claim 10, wherein the outer cover is integrally formed with the core member through insert-injection molding or over-molding. 